AD Vision has formally announced its acquisition of translation and distribution rights to the Air anime, including the 13 episode television series, 2 episode TV special, and motion picture. The first of 4 TV series DVD volumes will be released domestically on August 14th. The movie will be released this winter.
Source: Anime on DVD
The official homepage for the upcoming Shin SOS Dai Tokyo Tankentai anime motion picture now hosts a 15 second TV commercial in narrowband and broadband resolutions, and a full length theatrical trailer. The film is scheduled for Japanese theatrical release on May 19th.
Source: Anime News Network
Japanese anime studio Kyoto Animation has formally announced its decision to replace Yutaka Yamamoto as the director of the current Lucky Star anime television series “due to performance issues.” Beginning with next week’s episode 5, the series will be directed by Yasuhiro Takemoto.
Original director Yamamoto has previously worked on titles including Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu, Air, and Full Metal Panic! Fumoffu? Lucky Star was his first work as a series director.
Yasuhiro Takemoto was series director for the Full Metal Panic! Fumoffu? and Full Metal Panic Second Raid anime.
Source: Moon Phase Message Board
The official Japanese homepage for the upcoming Sketch Book ~full color’S~ anime television series is now online.
Source: Moon Phase
The Anime Today podcast episode 39 features an audio interview with Mr. Tatsunori Konno, president of Bandai Visual USA. In this exclusive, in-depth interview, Mr. Konno discusses Bandai Visual USA’s upcoming release plans and long-term marketing strategy (including pricing and production details), next-generation video formats and how fans can give them feedback on their releases.
Video footage of the entire first annual American Anime Awards ceremony, held on February 24th in association with the New York Comic Con, is now available for free from iTunes.
Anime Expo has announced that this year’s convention will host a “Battle of the Bands” contest. This exciting new competition will provide amateur bands the chance to perform song choices from two categories (anime, and anime themed videogames) to convention attendees on June 29. Rules and entry guidelines are available from the Anime Expo homepage.
Question:
Has there ever been a show from Japan with so incredibly expensive a license that U.S. companies deemed it too great a financial risk to import to the States, despite how popular it might’ve been with fans?
Sansai Books’ best selling Moetan parody English language teaching guide book series will debut as an anime television series in July.
Source: Moon Phase
Takami Akai, Gainax co-founder and co-creator/producer behind Gainax’s current anime television series Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, has formally apologized for offensive public comments made in response to Japanese internet criticism of the Gurren Lagann anime, and announced his resignation from Gainax. Beginning with this week’s Gurren Lagann episode 5, Akai’s name will no longer appear among the staff credits.
Source: Anime News Service
Anime News Service reports an un-cited and unconfirmed announcement that author Yoshichi Shimada’s best selling semi-autobiographical novel “Saga no Gabai Baachan” will be adapted into an anime feature film for a planned 2009 release. The work has already been adapted into a live action feature film, television drama, and stage play.
Viz has formally announced plans for a “Naruto Nation” marketing campaign. In order to catch up to the present Japanese release schedule and to prepare readers for upcoming notable changes in the main character and story arc, VIZ Media will offer three new volumes of Naruto manga per month from September through December 2007. The new publishing schedule will carry the series up to volume 27.
The specific manga release schedule is as follows:
September 2007: Naruto volumes 16-18
October 2007: Naruto volumes 19-21
November 2007: Naruto volumes 22-24
December 2007: Naruto volumes 25-27
The Fiesta Asia street festival will take place on May 12th, 2007 in Washington D.C. and is free and open to the public. This year’s event has been expanded to include 3 staging areas and a new health pavilion. Other attractions include a cultural parade; live performances by dancers, vocalists, musicians, martial artists; multicultural food and open market vendors; interactive cultural displays, craft exhibits; a lion dance showcase; information services and much more.
Article provided by the DC Anime Club
Question:
What companies besides Toei have failed in their attempt to enter the North American anime and manga markets?
